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A lighter Caesar salad in a white serving bowl with croutons, Parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing on the side.

A Lighter Caesar Salad

Katrina Poole
Light Caesar salad with crisp romaine and a thick, creamy Greek yogurt and mayo dressing. Classic anchovy, Parmesan, garlic, and lemon flavor in a lighter everyday version.
* Quick Note Before You Dive In: This recipe card covers the basics, but for my testing notes, texture tips, and romaine prep advice, scroll back up to the post.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course sides
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 makes 1 1/4 cups dressing
Calories 276 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup (104g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (113g) plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup 26g finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 4 (15g) anchovy fillets minced
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons (9g) minced garlic 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 teaspoons (10g) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) Dijon mustard
  • 10 cups (420g) chopped or torn romaine lettuce washed and dried
  • Croutons if desired

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Add the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, anchovies, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard to a medium bowl. Stir until well combined.
  • Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine. Tear into bite-sized pieces, setting aside the smaller inner leaves for the top of the salad.
  • Place the romaine lettuce in a large mixing bowl. Add 3/4 cup of the dressing to start and toss until evenly coated, adding more dressing as needed. Transfer to a salad bowl or serving platter.
  • Add croutons, if using, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve immediately. Store any leftover dressing in the refrigerator until needed.

Notes:

Parmesan: Use finely grated Parmesan so it incorporates evenly into the dressing; coarser shreds won’t blend as smoothly.
10 cups of chopped lettuce is equivalent to 2 medium heads of romaine.
Salt: I don’t add salt to the dressing because the anchovies, Parmesan, and Worcestershire sauce provide plenty of saltiness. Taste the finished dressing and add a small pinch of salt at the end only if needed.
Anchovy paste: Substitute the anchovy fillets with 1 teaspoon anchovy paste to start, then add more to taste.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for professional dietary advice

Nutrition

Serving: 150gCalories: 276kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 8gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 542mgPotassium: 408mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 10331IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Caesar dressing with Greek yogurt, Caesar salad with anchovies, creamy Caesar salad, easy sides, high protein sides, homemade Caesar dressing, light caesar dressing, light Caesar salad
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